I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Venice, FL
The city of Venice is in southwest Florida, approximately 30 minutes south of Sarasota and an hour south of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. Only 25,463 people live in this small city, with a considerable majority of them being seniors — 61.9% of residents are 65 years of age or older, according to 2020 U.S. Census data.
With no individual income tax burden and a sales tax rate of 7% that’s slightly below the U.S. average of 7.3%, Florida has significant economic benefits as a retirement destination. Adults over 65 can also find some savings on property taxes through the statewide homestead exemption. Crime rates are exceptionally low in this senior-heavy city and have been dropping steadily for the last two decades. On top of all that, Venice winters are extraordinarily mild, with highs in the mid-70s all winter long.
Venice seniors have two hospitals to choose from within the city limits: ShorePoint Health Venice, previously Venice Regional Bayfront Health, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice Campus, a modern facility that opened in late 2021. The hospital’s primary campus, located 30 minutes north of Venice, is ranked among Florida’s top 10 medical facilities and among the nation’s top 40 facilities for rehabilitation care.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Venice, FL
According to the Genworth Financial 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of home care in Venice is $5,720; the cost of home health care is identical. The exact cost of these services varies by provider, though, and home health care can be more expensive than home care since the former usually involves more robust medical services.
The price of $5,720 assumes you’ll need 44 hours of care every week, so if you only need care on weekends or mornings — or if you regularly need a care provider available overnight — that price may move accordingly. Calculated as an hourly rate, the $5,720 monthly cost translates to $30/hr for both home care and home health care in Venice.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Across the state of Florida, the average cost of aging in place is approximately $4,767 for both home care and home health care. Nationally, the average monthly price for home care is $4,957, with home health care averaging $5,148. In the Florida capital of Tallahassee, seniors pay $4,814 a month for both types of care, and in Miami they pay $4,195 and $4,385, respectively. Punta Gorda’s prices are very similar to state averages at $4,767 for home care and $4,957 for home health care.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
The only long-term care option more expensive than home care in Venice is nursing home care, which averages $9,490 per month. Seniors on a budget will see considerable savings from choosing adult day care at $2,080 a month, but such care usually requires traveling to a business location. Assisted living care, which averages $4,145 a month, is roughly twice as expensive as adult day care but is also roughly 28% cheaper than home care.
III. How to Find Home Care in Venice, FL
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Venice, FL.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Venice, FL
Venice Area Mobile Meals
What You Should Know
This fully independent all-volunteer organization uses a crew of nearly 200 drivers and routers to deliver low-cost noontime meals to homebound Venice residents Monday through Saturday. Meals are prepared hot daily and provide 800 calories of nutrition through main courses, greens, desserts and fruit.
While the program isn’t free, VAMM charges just $6 per meal and charges program participants monthly. You can pay your bill online or directly through your delivery person.
Who Is Eligible?
There are no age or income restrictions on this meal program; as long as you’re not able to prepare meals for yourself at home, you qualify for service.
How to Get Started
Call VAMM at (941) 488-3750 or stop in its main office at 920 Tamiami Trail South in Venice.
Gulfcoast Legal Services
What You Should Know
This pro bono law firm offers support for seniors who find themselves in some legal or financial difficulty aging in place. If you’re facing a foreclosure notice, dealing with debt collectors or believe yourself to be a possible victim of housing discrimination, GLS lawyers may be able to help. The firm also provides support for seniors who need to create or update legal documents, such as wills and medical directives.
Who Is Eligible?
If you’re at least 60 years of age or disabled, you can access GLS services. Note that the firm doesn’t accept every case; though there aren’t specific income caps for potential clients, they’re prioritized by financial need.
How to Get Started
GLS has an office in Venice at 4242 S Tamiami Trail; you can stop by for an in-person consultation or call ahead to discuss your case at (941) 484-4811.
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology
What You Should Know
This Tallahassee-based nonprofit works to make helpful technological devices available to seniors and those with disabilities. In addition to traditional mobility devices such as rollators and wheelchairs, FAAST’s extensive lending library includes computer input devices, hearing aids, robotic feeders and more. The agency maintains 12 Regional Demonstration Centers where volunteers can walk you through using such devices. If you can’t make it to one of the centers, you can choose to have equipment mailed directly to you for 15- to 35-day test periods. FAAST makes some of its equipment available for open-ended loans as well.
You can also take advantage of FAAST’s New Horizon loan program, which provides the opportunity to purchase new assistive technology outright. Loans from this program can also be used for home safety and convenience upgrades, such as railings and wheelchair ramps. The loan program is designed to be accessible to those with low credit or fixed incomes. Most loans cap at $25,000, but you can get up to $40,000 in New Horizon assistance under certain circumstances.
Who Is Eligible?
Any Florida resident who lives with a disability is eligible for FAAST’s services, all of which are completely free.
How to Get Started
Contact FAAST’s state offices at (844) 353-2278 or email [email protected]. The nearest Regional Demonstration Center to Venice, the Center For Independent Living of Gulf Coast, is located in Fort Myers. Call the office at (954) 320-6860 or visit in person at 7011 Cypress Terrace Suite 103 to see some of FAAST’s technology in action.
Senior Homestead Exemption
What You Should Know
Florida residents 65 years of age and up qualify may apply for a senior homestead exemption that can help them save money on property taxes. The exemption works by lowering the taxable value of a home by $50,000. This is in addition to Florida’s basic homestead exemption of $50,000 for all residents. For example, if a home’s assessed value is $200,000, using the regular homestead exemption and the senior homestead exemption means the homeowner would only be taxed as if the home’s value was $100,000.
Who Is Eligible?
In addition to being 65 years of age or older, you’ll need to be a permanent Florida citizen, you must live in the same property for which you’re requesting the tax exemption, and you’ll need to be under certain income limits. Additionally, to receive the exemption in any given year, you must file your application before March 1 of that year. Some senior veterans of the U.S. military automatically qualify for the exemption.
How to Get Started
Call the Sarasota County Property Appraiser at (941) 861-8200 or start your application online.
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida
What You Should Know
This nonprofit is the region’s official Aging and Disability Center in addition to being its Area Agency on Aging. As such, it functions as a primary point of contact for senior-related services that include home care, home-delivered meals, nutrition assistance, Medicare counseling, mental health support, abuse prevention and more.
Who Is Eligible?
The AAASWF works with Florida residents 60 years of age or over who live in Sarasota County or six other southwest Florida counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, Lee or Glades.
How to Get Started
Call the AAASWF’s main offices at (239) 652-6900, connect to its Elder Helpline at (866) 413-5337, or visit its Fort Myers office at 2830 Winkler Avenue, Suite 112.